, 1887-02-10
REDUCTION WORKS.

Can we get reduction works estah
lished here? Would they pay?
W0ulI they benefit the city? These
are questions which have been con-
siderabl~ discussed Of late, lNh In
the papers and by our business men,
and they are OF sufficient 'impor-
tance to me rit the most 'areful con-
slderation. The man ufacturing in
dustries here must necessarily be the
most vital to the city for some time
to come. Spokane Falls has made
great improvements during the past
year, especially in the matter OF new
buildings. That 1t has no. been
overdone Is evident from the fact
chat every room in the city Is occu.
pied and that the cry is still for
more. But the sources from whence
come the money and the possibility
of increasing them are Of greater
importance than the buildings and
city improvements, which come
from these sources and are main
tanned by them. Mercantile busi-
ness here Is up to. II not in advance
OF, the requirements of the times.
1t would not pay new conner to in
vest large amount Of money In
any of the lines now conducted here.
A competing railroad would be
the most vital Improvement which
could comv but we are power
less to bring AZ or even to influence
its coming, except by increasing
the general prosperity of the city
and thus holding out its growing
traffic business us an inducement fora
rival company. 1t Is to manufacture
ing interests that we must look for
the vitality to increase the strength
and growth of the city, and of all
those proposed none compare in i'm
portance with reduction works. Spo-
kane Falls has often been called the
"Denver of the Pacific" from the
central position 1t holds In the min
eral fields of eastern Washington and
northern Idaho. All the lines OF
traffic from the different districts
naturally center here. The success
OF some of the camps is already as
sured, and the revenue to be de-
rived from them will be immense,
but II is doubtful If the citizens here
fully appreciate the fact, and eer-
tainiy they have decided on no ac-
tive steps toward directing them
principally to this city. This was
the principal cause Of Denver's phe-
nominal prosperity. Her growth
was moderate until the erection Of
reduction works there brought the
greater part of Colorado ores thither
and established 1t as the nearest
point where a mine owner could
turn his production into money. The
greater part of 1t naturally staid there
and the city sprang into new life.
There are many business improve
ments on foot and projected for this
city but none of them compare In
importance with reduction works.
It Is doubtful If there is II point
In the United States better adapted
for the erection of a new set OF such
works. The central position OF
Spokane Falls to the different min
ing districts. the abundance OF lead
ores In all of them, the close proxity
of fuel and fiuxes, and the certainty
of one and perhaps two competing
railroads, both of which will give ad-
ditionai outlets to the Atlantic as
well as the Pacific sea boards, give
il advantages which 1t is hard to
excel.
Reduction works are costly under
takings, and il may be set down as a
certainty that it will be impossible TO
raise here all the funds required to
start them. Outside capital must be
attracted, and it is for the citizens
here to decide how that Is best to be
done. But the start must be made
here and enough money subscribed
to give an evidence OF the faith held
in the project by residents. Several
points in regard to the proposed
works may be mentioned here.
sThey can be started with a smelter,
calcininp furnace. and sampling
works of moderate capacity. Smelt.
ers of huge dimensions are not built
now. Stacks OF from 80 to 40 tons
are the sizes ordinarily in
re. II the works here were started
With one of these 1t would not be
vasted In case It should be decided to
ncrease the plant, butone or more ad-
itional stacks Of the same size would :